Questions & Answers to Civil Marriage in Switzerland

In my profession I have experienced many civil marriages in Switzerland and I will attempt to answer some frequent questions. If you have any further general questions or tips, please email me using the address at the bottom of the page. Please direct all official questions to the Zivilstandsamt in the area you plan to get married. Use all information provided on this website at your own risk; I can't assume any liability for anything.

Where can we have a civil marriage?

You can choose any official wedding locale in the whole of Switzerland. Even if you are a Swiss citizen having a Heimatgemeinde, you are not bound to marry there (although you must apply for your marriage there).

What should be look for when choosing a marriage locale?

You could have several criteria when choosing:

Do you like the room? The building? The town and area?
Do you like the person who will be conducting the ceremony?
If you're going to be having guests: Can the transport to the location and the time it will take them to get there be expected from them? (in case the ceremony takes place during work hours, or is a destination wedding)
If you don't want to have a conveyor-belt wedding (:-) no, they don't have actual conveyors yet, but some busy locations do have back-to-back weddings which make you feel like you're on one): How many ceremonies do normally take place during a typical day? How much time is budgeted per ceremony?
If you'd like the ceremony on a Saturday: Does this possibility exist? (there are no Sunday ceremonies in Switzerland)
Since a church wedding is only allowed after the civil ceremony, check whether you can get a date for the civil ceremony before the church wedding. Remember you can choose any civil registry office for the civil ceremony, so don't worry if the office of your choosing isn't free - there are others.
If you'd like a toast or a small reception after the ceremony, check if and where this is possible.

Can the bride appear in white? Can there be music?

Yes, my experience shows that almost half the brides wear a white wedding gown. The others will usually wear smart business clothes.

Also the entrance of the bride, with or without her father or other accompaniment, into the seated ceremony room is possible like in a church entry. However it will be more likely to be permissible in the less-busy locations, in order not to jeopardize the schedule of the day. Or the few extra minutes this takes will be deducted from the subsequent ramblings of the official.

I have experienced music played from CD or even small live music groups performing at the ceremony, but it is rare. Canned music is effective only at a certain volume level, so be sure to seriously crank up the volume on the stereo! Many an emotional moment has been squashed due to the barely-audible love song. The effect is of course also dependent on the quality of the stereo, so don't attempt to use your laptop for the music.

A lot is possible, so do discuss your wishes well in advance with the civil registry office.

Does the bride have a bouquet at the ceremony?

Yes, this is often the case, but not always. It is certainly not a requirement.

How should the guests dress?

Often guests appear in normal street clothes (especially if they've just taken an hour off from work around the corner), while the wedding couple's looking like a million dollars. This doesn't match very well. So if you'd like the guests to wear formal attire, I would mention that in the invitations.

Conveyor-belt weddings?

A lot of ceremonies take place in the main locations of Zurich, Lucerne or Basle and that is only possible with a strict time schedule. In the Zurich Townhall the schedule is about 20 minutes per couple. So if you're lingering in the room for too long, being congratulated and taking all the family photographs, you will be told in a freindly manner to leave the room.

If you make sure that you've booked the last session for the half-day (noon or evening), then there will be less pressure since there is no next wedding taking place immediately after.

These frequent weddings do take their toll on the officials, so that they sometimes make the ceremony somewhat dry, unemotional, short or end abruptly. Of course this also depends on their talent, motivation and experience. Younger officials often are more emotional but this cannot be generalized.

What is the sequence of events at a ceremony?

Identity verification of the couple and the witnesses by the official (don't forget your passport or Id!).
All are seated. The two witnesses sit together with the couple and the official at the ceremony table, the guests are seated - or are standing, depending on the number of available seats - in the guest area.
Welcoming words and introduction by the official.
Speech by the official, for example a real-life story, some wise anecdotes, the history of the building, some paragraphs out of the Swiss Civil Code, general recommendations for married life (often hints are delivered about stormier days...), Poem, literary piece, etc.
The actual marriage, saying "I do" (Trauakt). For this the persons at the ceremony table usually stand up. The kiss (optional).
Signatures of the couple, the witnesses and the official (in this sequence). Often the bride will be adressed by her new name (to the merriment of the guests) and asked to sign with her new name.
Closing words, perhaps with a second, smaller speech by the official. Often the official will present the couple a small gift.
Congratulations from the official, the couple receives the "family book" (Familienbüchlein).
Congratulations by the guests.
Photos taken (optional) by the guests or photographer.

What does a civil marriage cost?

The costs are low and depend on the town. Ask. For special locations a surcharge will be levied, for example the Porträtsaal in Lucerne.

Can we exchange rings?

Yes, you can exchange rings but this is optional. Some couples save the ring-exchange for the church ceremony. Others do it at both.

Should we kiss?

If you'd like to kiss you should do it immediately after the ring-exchange, or after the "I do's", if you aren't going to be exchanging rings. You will not be asked to kiss, so don't wait to be prompted (the rare exception proves the rule).

Do you feel different after the ceremony?

You'll feel good but not different after the ceremony. You might have a new name and a new ring on your finger, however.

Should I give the official a gift?

No. It's very rare that the official receives a gift from the couple.

What happens if we forget our id's?

This happens. The official will probably turn a blind eye if you appear sincere that you simply forgot. The official will decide how to proceed. I've also experienced that the couple didn't have any witnesses. They were then simply "borrowed" from the previous ceremony.

Should we use a ring pillow for the rings?

Of course, it gives a further ceremonious feel. Either the office has a pillow or you'll have to bring one along. Ask.

Is it possible to stand around the entrance and cheer the couple when they come out?

Of course and it gives the event a ceremonious air. The guests should be quick and decisive to take their positions. Depending on the hobbies and professions of the couple, a lot of objects can be held in the air above the tunnel: tennis racquets, golf clubs, fire hoses, hospital objects, bank flags, and so forth. Balloons, flags and colored ribbons also look great. Stuff can also be thrown at the couple: rose petals, confetti or rice. Rice and Bird feed (doesn't need to cleaned away later if there are birds in the vicinity) have a high velocity when thrown, so the couple will squint their eyes and maybe duck. Also, some grains will get lodged in their hair and clothes. Rose petals, followed by confetti are perhaps the most photogenic. Soap bubbles are transparent, slow-moving and need time to generate so they're great for a photo op if the couple are stationary at one point (usually not so effective when moving).

To be sure, you can ask if the throwing of rose petals, rice etc. is allowed. Or you ask for forgiveness later, if necessary :-).

Should we have flower children?

This is possible and looks nice. However, children cannot throw flowers at the right moment and high enough on the wedding couple, so this part should be performed by the grown-ups.

Is there a translator for the ceremony?

This option is normally available in the large cities and the tourist destinations. Some officials are multilingual, and often can conduct ceremonies in English. Ask.

Can I have the ceremony in my garden?

No, a civil ceremony is only possible in official locations. An exception is made if the couple can prove that they are unable to appear at an official location (Art. 101 of the Swiss Civil Code).

Should be hire a photographer or a videographer?

For good images this is an option, although the photographer should be able to present good sample images in a similar situation or in the same location. You can also ask a guest who likes to take pictures to do so. However, the light in most locales is not very good and often mixed light. A recommended high-quality photographer is Traumfoto Hochzeitsfotografie. Video is an additional possibility, which is easier to do by a guest using a video-tripod with a fluid panning arm (so the picture is stable during the long ceremony). To capture good audio, the camera should not be placed too far from the ceremony table. Use a high-definition camcorder to obtain a good-quality recording. If you don't have access to this equipment, you can rent it, e.g. at Videomiete.ch.

Are there restrictions while photographing?

Very seldom, in contrast to church weddings. You can photograph everything and as long as you want. It's more likely that the photographer will have to restrict himself in order not to disturb the intimate atmosphere by walking around and through camera clicks. Using video is in any case no problem, although recently some locations do not allow video anymore during the ceremony.

Anything else?

Of course there are no rules without exceptions: There are ceremonies where the couple does not stand up when saying I do, where the couple is asked to kiss (especially after the officials visit this website, lol), or the photographer receives instructions where to stand or when to take pictures.

What should we do after the ceremony?

Often the ceremony is perceived to be too short by the couple and they ask themselves "is this all?"

Some subsequent celebrations are therefore in order. This is best organized by the witnesses, family and friends so the couple have an element of surprise. Some possibilities which work well after the ceremony are:

Guests stand and cheer the wedding couple as they leave the building. Stand in two rows flanking the exit and throw rose petals. Hold colored balloons, wave flags or paper strips.
Music is very effective! Hire a small combo to sing/play happy music just outside the building. Failing that, ask guests, family or coworkers who play an instrument or sing. As an alternative use a ghetto-blaster! Happy music! Crank the volume up high!
Cooler with champagne or prosecco and some snacks.
Lift up first the bride, then the groom into the air and cheer them!

Here's a video which shows all the elements of an unforgettable exit from the registry office. It was staged and filmed as a video prank for a random couple in New York, but it is a good example.

The most important elements are: 1. A happy couple 2. Bird-feed, to throw at the couple 3. A party atmosphere, here with tents and formal attire 4. Champagne-glasses filled with a cool and tasty refreshment :-) Do toast! 5. Some formal and nice words about the couple (keep it short) 6. Good music (even a first dance!) 7. Even a wedding cake with cake cutting! 8. Cheering and laughter 9. Surprises for the couple and a special experience (here a riksha ride through the city) 10. Photos and video 11. Small gifts. If you have comments, hints or feedback I'll be glad to receive them! Please use the email-address below.